Fiery 5-Car Crash On Veterans Memorial Highway Injures 6, 2 Seriously: Police

SMITHTOWN, NY — Six people were injured, two of them seriously, in a five-vehicle crash that sparked a fire on Veterans Memorial Highway Tuesday evening, according to Suffolk County police.

The crash happened at around 5:55 p.m. on the eastbound side of Veterans Memorial Highway, where multiple vehicles had been stopped in a left-turn lane waiting to turn onto northbound Ledgewood Drive, police said.

According to investigators, a 2025 Mazda CX30 driven by John Heenan, 60, of Glendale, was traveling eastbound in the left lane when it struck the rear of a stopped 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander.

The impact triggered a chain reaction.

Police said the Mitsubishi was pushed into a 2025 Tesla Model 3, which then struck a 2020 Toyota Camry, which in turn hit a 2023 Mazda CX-5.

After the initial collision, the Mazda CX30 caught fire, and the flames spread to the Tesla, authorities said.

The Hauppauge Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire.

Six people were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital with various injuries. Five were taken by ambulance, while one was airlifted by Suffolk County Police helicopter.

Heenan suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Erin Applebaum, 43, of Hauppauge, who was driving the Mitsubishi, also suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Her two daughters, ages 9 and 12, who were seated in the back, were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the Tesla, Michelle Lewis, 43, of Hauppauge, and her 8-year-old son were also treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The drivers of the remaining vehicles, Ahad Idris, 31, of Smithtown, and Ann Denning, 39, of Smithtown, were not injured, police said.

All five vehicles were impounded for safety checks as the investigation continues.

Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact them at 631-854-8452.